I have a theory about Toyota

"Shmevans" (icantdriveanyslower) 04/07/2016 at 11:28 • Filed to: None

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And it is that Toyota has (in part) designed their new lineup like this to save money on paint. Black plastic is cheaper that painted panels and after millions of cars it must add up. Also I personally think it looks ridiculous. Thoughts?

*All images from toyota.ca

Niko's Work Account > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:33

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nah

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:33

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I thought it was a weight thing.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:35

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Totally impossible. That shit would never fly.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:36

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I’ve got a theory: they’s ugly-ass cars. The last best Toyotas, and I own two of them, were built 25 years ago.

Stapleface > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:37

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While possible, given how thin paint is on new cars, they'd probably only save a gallon per 1000 cars. I can look at my 15 Civic the wrong way and make the paint chip in three places.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:40

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I thought it was a residual sales thing. Black textured plastic is unrepairable, essentially. When a painted bumper gets gouged, it’s sanded, plastic repaired, primed and blocked back to smooth finish. There’s no way to reproduce the textured finish in those parts accurately, or to even think about matching colors the way unpainted plastic fades. Thus, manufacturer sells a lot more grilles/bumper covers/door mirrors/bodyside moldings/handles, and also prevents the reconditioning market from reselling damaged OEM components.

Shmevans > Stapleface 04/07/2016 at 11:41

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At least there are three places for it to chip. These things look so stupid to me. And if I’m honest, the brand new Civic doesn’t do it for me either but for completely different reasons.

Shmevans > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 04/07/2016 at 11:43

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I like this answer because it makes Toyota look even more evil than my theory. And we all know the typical Corolla driver is going to go through some grilles.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2016 at 11:44

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#becauseracecar

BigBlock440 > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:48

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I like it, the theory I mean.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:55

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I wonder who the first manufacturer will be to have a completely plastic exterior?

HammerheadFistpunch > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:56

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um...i think any cost savings would be pretty minimal given design and tooling costs. I’m pretty sure these are intentional stylistic choices.

Probenja > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 11:56

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And I think they are making them uglier every year!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > HammerheadFistpunch 04/07/2016 at 11:59

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Could be. Injection molded plastic is stupid cheap. If you’re ten million of cars per year, I’m sure it adds up.

HammerheadFistpunch > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2016 at 12:01

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well, except that you have to make molds to inject it into to and retool the other machines that form the sheet metal to go around it. Its possible...but if there are cost savings I can bet they are tertiary to the style

Shmevans > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/07/2016 at 12:02

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People get their cars wrapped anyway, just sell me the bare plastic and let me get on my way.

Shmevans > HammerheadFistpunch 04/07/2016 at 12:04

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You’re probably right but man I hope you’re wrong. Because STYLE??!! I have a hard time believing a team of people agreed that looks good.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HammerheadFistpunch 04/07/2016 at 12:04

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You’d be surprised. If they don’t have to put clear rockguard or pvc film on as many pieces, if they don’t have to worry about different prep for as many different pieces and getting a topcoat match between two separate processes, if they can final coat more pieces in place on the body shell, proceed to assembly, and *then* have the black plastic on... the cost savings with a flexible/rearrangeable process could be significant. Design and tooling costs are mostly fixed, but process costs much less so, so you optimize the first for the second and come out ahead in the millions of units.

HammerheadFistpunch > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 12:06

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The thing with style is...”good” doesn’t have to be universally agreed on, so long as its distinctive.

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 12:10

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The only modern Toyota I like is the Avalon, which is a pretty handsome car. How the same people that styled the Corolla came up with the Avalon I don't know.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/07/2016 at 12:13

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Chevy

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/07/2016 at 12:17

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Sometimes Toyota paints it.

Shmevans > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 04/07/2016 at 12:18

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Still has a gigantic fish mouth but I’ll agree it is by far the best of the bunch.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2016 at 12:28

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That’s fibreglass.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 04/07/2016 at 12:35

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Fiberglass is plastic.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2016 at 12:37

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By that logic, so is carbon fibre.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 04/07/2016 at 12:44

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Yes. Carbon fiber is also plastic.

Svend > Shmevans 04/07/2016 at 12:56

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It’s like the new Toyota Aygo. The front end is ugly to me but others like it.

It’s sister the Citroen C1 is ugly for it’s Nissan Juke-esk head lights.

Yet it’s Peugeot 108 sibling to me is very good looking, stylish without being showy.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2016 at 13:14

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Pictured: Not plastic

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2016 at 13:20

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Plastic does not mean “not metal”

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/07/2016 at 13:40

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Nope. You’re right. Plastic means synthetic carbon-based solid. In other words, fiberglass (plastic fibers reinforcing a plastic polymer) and carbon fiber (also plastic fibers reinforced by plastic polymers) are plastic.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2016 at 13:49

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Stop being pedantic. You know what everyone means. Also fiberglass=glass fibers...not plastic fibers, carbon fiber=carbon fibers...not plastic fibers. And saying plastic polymer is sort of redundant since plastics are polymers by definition

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Shmevans 04/08/2016 at 22:48

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“Also I personally think it looks ridiculous.” Yes, this. I can only assume Toyota is trolling everyone. They are making ugly cars on purpose. I mean, seriously, what were they thinking with the Aygo? I’m not sure that a sane, rational person could find that face attractive.